Propane Tank Sizes (Standard Weight & Capacity)
Propane is one of the most efficient forms of gas to use around the home or for powering appliances and businesses. Aside from its efficiency because of its lighter state, it is also highly versatile and safe, which makes it one of the most utilized energy sources for homes and businesses—earning its nickname “portable gas” on top of it.
There are many sizes available for propane gas, and each of these varieties can fulfill the needs of every household needing one specific size for a particular purpose and use. Whether they are powering clothes dryers for laundromats or furnaces for an apartment complex, knowing the size is vital to ensure effectiveness.
Standard Propane Tank Size
| Characteristic | Details |
|---|---|
| Standard Size | 20-pound (20-lb) tank |
| Weight Capacity | 20 pounds of propane |
| Liquid Capacity | Approximately 4.7 gallons |
| Height | 17-18 inches |
| Diameter | 12 inches |
| Common Uses |
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| Other Names |
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One of the foremost things a homeowner will encounter when looking for the perfect propane size is its size is usually measured in pounds. It is also important to note that this weight is how heavy a tank is when it is full of gas. This is vital since most cylinders are filled only at an 80% capacity, leaving room for the content to expand.
The standard propane size will differ from the smaller 20 pounds or 9 kilo cylinders to the much larger and heavier 1000-gallon canisters used for more significant needs. Whether a homeowner needs a smaller or more extensive capacity of propane gas will depend on the house size and the number of gas-powered appliances in the home.
Residential Propane Cylinder Sizes
Other than businesses, homes also often require the need for tanks, and there are a variety of sizes available for them. There is the 20 pounds propane tank ideal for small-scale use to the larger 1000 gallon tanks for bigger homes to use for home purposes, from heating to a central energy source.
Another thing to consider when considering the canister size a homeowner will need is the climate where they live. A tank needed for a place with milder weather will not require such a big one compared to areas with a colder climate, which will require all-around heating during wintertime.
100 LB Propane Tank Size
One of the most utilized and standard residential canisters is the 100 pound propane tank size. This tank can easily be stored downstairs in the basement of a home and does not require it to be installed underground.
Most propane tanks with 100 pounds capacity have a height of 48 inches or 122 centimeters with a diameter of 18 inches or 71 centimeters.
This storage capacity can be filled with a maximum of 23.6 gallons of liquid propane for a home to use. When empty, this tank weighs about 212 pounds.
100 LB Propane Tank Uses
With a 100-gallon propane tank being the most versatile option for most homes, there are a lot of uses to benefit from this canister size. This size can be used for home fireplaces in the winter, for cooking and barbecues, dryers, and also for short-term heating options for commercial job sites.
A 100-gallon canister can last for an extended period, and it is also light enough that an average person can easily move around it. This tank can also be filled at local filling stations as an added efficiency.
60 Gallon Propane Tank
Other than the standard 100-gallon propane tank ready to be used at most homes for many purposes. There is also the smaller 60 gallon tanks that can hold about 48 gallons of liquid gas at total capacity.
Most 60-gallon propane tanks have a height of 50 inches or around 127 centimeters and a diameter of 23.1 inches or about 59 centimeters. If the homeowner is approximately 6 feet in height, this size will go up to their waist, depending on each brand and type of canister.
60 Gallon Tank Uses
Although they are smaller than the standard 100 gallon tanks, a 60-gallon cylinder is tiny but mighty. This canister is small enough that it could be hidden out of sight in many kitchens to power the oven but be mightily sufficient to power it, plus other small appliances in a home.
However, this capacity is more advisable to be used in smaller homes than in larger scale ones, and the uses are limited to cooking appliances or dryers for residential clothes drying. When used in businesses, this tank might run out quickly.
120 Gallon Propane Tank
There is little difference between 100-gallon tanks and 120-gallon ones, as most gas manufacturers and sellers regard them as the same.
Vertical 120-gallon propane tanks are often 54 and a half inches or 138 centimeters tall with a diameter of around 30 inches or 76 centimeters.
This tank size can hold up to 96 gallons of liquid gas at full capacity. These tanks are so tall that if a homeowner is around 6 feet tall, it can extend up to their shoulders.
120 Gallon Propane Tank Uses
Like the 100-gallon before it, a 120-gallon canister poses a lot of uses for any homeowners needing it. One distinct difference is that the former is easier to move around than the latter, which is not easy to move around. What the 120-gallon size makes up for is the tank’s ability to be used for essentially everything.
It can be used to heat homes, provide a home with hot water, for use to power cooking and washing and drying appliances, fireplaces or generators for blackouts, plus pool and garage heating, and any other temporary heating solution.
It is common to see multiple 120-gallon tanks tied together for a bigger purpose and uses.
250 Gallon Propane Tank Size
This next tank will bridge the gap between small and large home gas users since it can support moderate use, not just small-scale ones, the 250-gallon capacity tank. This tank can hold up to 200 gallons of liquid gas to fulfill the 80% safety rule.
This often horizontal cylindrical propane tank can extend up to 92 inches or 234 centimeters long with a diameter of 30 inches or 76 centimeters. When empty, it can weigh around 483 pounds, with the full canister weighing 1333 pounds.
250 Gallon Tank Uses
Because of its bigger size, the 250-gallon cylinder holds a much bigger task for more home requirements, like auxiliary heating power solutions for homes. This canister can be used to power multiple water heaters. It can also be powerful enough to heat pools and power generators for a medium-sized home during a blackout.
Although this is a lot bigger, installing this canister size is also more advisable for places that experience shorter cold or winter times. The efficiency of this tank will also depend on the square footage of a specific home and how much it will use.
500 Gallon Propane Tank Size
A larger capacity canister perfect for larger residential homes is the 500 gallon size. This unit is extensive, and although it can still be easily installed in a basement or a garage, homeowners can have the option to install it underground.
Most 500-gallon propane tanks extend up to 120 inches or 305 centimeters long with a diameter of 37 inches or around 94 centimeters. This storage canister can hold up to 400 gallons of fuel. When empty, it can weigh 949 pounds, and when full, this tank weighs a whopping 2649 pounds.
500 Gallon Tank Uses
A 500-gallon canister has the capacity to contain around 50 million BTUs, and if a homeowner is using a central heater that requires 10000 BTU a day, this canister can keep the heat going for almost half a year or around 190 days. For commercial applications, it will take much shorter.
This powerful canister can power a home’s heating system, and it can be used for commercial heating and cleaning, dry cleaning for laundromats, generators, crop dying, and many other practical solutions both for residential and commercial use.
1000 Gallon Propane Tank Size
One of the best options for residential buildings and commercial establishments is a 1000 gallon storage canister. This tank holds around 800 gallons of gas at total capacity.
Most 1000 gallon propane tanks are about 16 feet or 192 inches long. It will be about 4 feet and 2 inches tall, or around 50 inches, with a diameter of 41 inches or 104 centimeters. This tank size is often found buried underground to power anything from a larger home to a business establishment.
1000 Gallon Tank Uses
A 1000-gallon bulk storage canister is a workhorse since it can provide gas needs for larger homes, smaller apartment complexes, businesses, or sea fleets for a significant period of time.
Some specific uses are whole-house heating and cooling systems, commercial building heating, commercial cooking for larger-scale restaurants and buffets, for use in larger-scale laundromats, crop drying in agriculture use, and even storage for small-scale filling stations.
This size is pretty powerful and can be installed, whether over or underground, depending on the space available for each home.
Portable Propane Cylinder Sizes
Portable propane tank sizes have a lot of uses, but they are mostly utilized for mobile cooking and heating solutions for things like camping and RV traveling.
Small is relative when it comes to defining how much is needed for a specific portable cylinder; that’s why, although they are less than the larger and more permanent storage canisters, bigger products are still available.
The standard portable products available in the market range in a variety of sizes, from the 1 pound variety for fast cooking to the much bigger 100 pound ones for RVs.
20 LB Propane Tank
One of the most commonly used portable options is the 20-pound propane tank primarily used for cooking. Many of the 20-pound cylinder varieties are available with a dimension of 12 by 12 by 18 inches or around 30 by 30 by 46 centimeters.
A 20-pound propane tank will weigh around 17 pounds when empty, but once filled, the weight can go up to 37 pounds, which is generally still light compared to the bigger ones. These 20-pound cylinders hold about 4.7 gallons of fuel.
20 LB Propane Tank Uses
Owing to its smaller size and lighter capacity, a 20 pound cylinder has limited use, and most of them will involve cooking. This size is great for outdoor cooking, and it can also be used for short-term patio heaters and generators for blackouts and other outdoor purposes.
To power a space heater for a home, this 20-pound capacity can last more than a day or 34.4 hours, all in all, to be exact. Not a bad track record for such a small tank.
RV Propane Gas Tank
Propane gas tanks for RVs are used in a variety of ways and solutions. Not only are they used to power RV furnaces, RV stove burners and ovens, and the bathroom water heater, but gas for RV will power appliances inside the vehicle when electricity is not readily available.
Many home appliances are refrigerators that use electric power. However, with a gas canister readily available and installed in the RV, one can easily have the comfort of refrigeration in their travels or mobile homes.
33 LB Propane Tank Size
One of the ideal sizes for RVs is the 33 pounds propane tank with a height of around 26.75 inches or 61 centimeters and a diameter spanning 12.5 inches or 30 centimeters.
A 33-pound capacity cylinder can hold up to 7.8 gallons of gas when full, and because of its lighter weight, it can easily be picked up by anyone, making it very portable and ideal for outdoor use or RV living. Another plus is it can easily be filled up in many filling stations.
Propane Gas Tank Sizes For Grills
One of the uses of a smaller gas cylinder is for operating grills, and the best size for this purpose is the smaller ones at 20 pounds for grill tanks or outdoor kitchens, 30 pounds for commercial grills, and 40 pounds for a propane tank for bigger grills. Depending on how long it will be used, they can last for a long time if their sole purpose is for cooking.
Propane Bottle Sizes
Propane bottle sizes or LPG gas bottles are available for those who need them, from the smaller 45-kg LPG bottle to the more enormous 210 kilograms variety. There is also an in-between size of 90 kilograms.
Propane Storage Tank Size Chart
| Propane Tank Size: | Length (Inches) | Diameter (Inches) | Width (Inches) | Height (Inches) | Empty Weight |
| 20 LB | 12 | 12 | 18 | 13.5 pounds | |
| 33 LB |
12.5 | 12.5 | 26.75 | 23.3 pounds | |
| 100 LB | 18 | 18 | 48 | 37.3 pounds | |
| 60 gallon | 23.1 | 23.1 | 50 | 67 pounds | |
| 120 gallon | 30 | 30 | 54.5 | 260 pounds | |
| 250 gallon | 92 | 30 | 30 | 483 pounds | |
| 500 gallon | 120 | 37 | 37 | 949 pounds | |
| 1000 gallon | 192 | 41 | 41 | 1760 pounds |
What Size Cylinder Of Propane Do I Need?
There are many propane sizes to choose from; ultimately, it will depend on what a homeowner wants to do with it. For a regular home running multiple appliances at once, the perfect fit is the 500-gallon capacity cannister if their homes are under 3500 square feet. Upgrading to the 1000-gallon or 2000-gallon variety is more advisable for homes above that size.
What Size Propane Line From Tank To House?
The propane lines from the tank to the house will depend on how many appliances are in the place. To determine the pipe size needed for the gas line, one must first add the BTUs of all the home appliances.
Another is looking at the pipe material; copper and iron pipes are the most common. For copper pipes, sizes can range from 1/4 to 1 1/4 inches. In contrast, iron pipes are available at 1/2 inch to 4 inches to bigger 8 inches.
How Long Will Propane Last?
How long propane last will depend on the use. One 20 lb tank will last at least 18 to 20 hours for grilling using a medium-sized grill. For furnaces, one gallon of propane will be used every hour, while water heaters require at least 1.5 gallons per day for regular heated water use.
To calculate how long a cylinder will last, use this formula.
Find the Total BTUs of Gas in the Cylinder: One gallon of propane provides about 91,500 BTUs.
A 20-pound tank (about 4.7 gallons) contains about 430,000 BTUs (4.7 gallons x 91,500 BTUs/gallon).
Divide by the Appliance’s BTU Consumption Rate: If your grill uses 30,000 BTUs per hour, divide the total BTUs in the tank by 430,000 BTUs / 30,000 BTUs/hour = about 14.3 hours of grilling time.
This chart illustrates the the duration a 20-pound tank will last when used by an appliance that consumes 30,000 BTU’s per hour. Based on the calculation, such a cylinder, containing approximately 430,000 BTUs, is estimated to last about 14.3 hours under these conditions.
Visit our underground propane tank pros and cons guide for more related content.
